Visit to Brisbane - University of Queensland and Griffith University
Dr. Martin Ringbauer was a consummate host at UQ. Importantly, he ensured that the OSA student chapter of nearby Griffith University joined the day’s events. Martin and the team gave excellent, very detailed, tours of the quantum optics and opto-mechanics labs led by Professors Andrew White and Warwick Bowen.

This is one of the keytake home messages from today’s post. Take the opportunity to visit as many labs as you can. People invest a lot of time learning their subject, distilling the findings, and sharing it with you. In just a few hours you can learn several years worth of insights. You will not regret it!

Giving a talk to a slightly different research community
I gave a technical seminar, which was a bit of a challenge, as the community here is focused on quantum optics whereas my talk on this occasion focused on nonlinear optics in waveguides. This is what we are taught, however, ‘know your audience!’

Since I anticipated this difference, I adopted my talk and focused on core concepts that have a relationship to this community. I’d say it worked as I had quite a few questions afterwards, which is always a good sign.

As often happens when we travel, we meet and re-encounter colleagues in unexpected places. In this case it was a colleague from Imperial College who I had just met in April and also happened to be visiting UQ that day. To make it a more complete story, he works with a former co-author of mine from the University of Sydney. It’s a small world indeed.

My challenge to you: Plan a visit to a colleague’s lab in the next 6 - 12 months

No matter what stage we are in our careers, this is an absolutely wonderful investment of our time.

We all know a friend or a colleague at another institute we have not yet visited. Tack it onto a conference in the region, or catch with the person you worked with at your prior lab.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
I’m looking forward to the OSA Frontiers in Optics (FiO) in Rochester, New York (October 17-21). This year will be especially exciting with the OSA Centennial celebration in the very place where the society started.

The OSA Ambassador team will discuss our experiences working with the OSA community, student chapters, and Young Professionals this year.

Latest News

Each year, nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke, and almost 90 percent of those are ischemic strokes in which a clot cuts off blood flow to part of the brain. To prevent further injury, blood flow to the brain must be restored as quickly as possible. In a new study, researchers show that non-invasive optical sensors can provide clinicians with real-time feedback on whether clot busting treatments are restoring blood flow. The technique, which monitors blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain, could also reveal early warnings signs of neurological complications after a stroke.

Student Membership Pricing

OSA supports the next generation of researchers and engineers. Students pay just $20 USD for 1-year membership; $10 USD for students residing in an economically developing nation. Save even more with a 3-year term.

The Optical Society's (OSA) mission is to promote the generation, application and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics and to disseminate this knowledge worldwide. The purposes of the Society are scientific, technical and educational. OSA’s commitment to excellence and long-term learning is the driving force behind all its initiatives.